Gun Safety Wins in Virginia; Gabrielle Giffords Congratulates Elaine Luria
November 6, 2018 – Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords released the following statement congratulating Elaine Luria for winning her election in Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District:
“This year, Elaine Luria dared to imagine an America where gun violence wasn’t normal and people didn’t have to live in fear, wondering if today was the day they would have to duck under a desk or hide in a closet. Elaine stood tall and boldly declared that the gun lobby is no longer welcome here, and their influence over our politicians is a thing of the past. Communities in Virginia responded to this message of courage and hope by electing Elaine to office. Today marks the dawn of a new era for gun safety in America.
“Elaine made it clear that once elected, she would fight for laws proven to keep guns out of dangerous hands and save lives. She understands that public service means constantly looking for solutions that make our society safer and stronger. On the campaign trail, she listened to the concerns of voters who don’t understand how we can live in a country where nearly 100 lives are lost to gunfire each day. Elaine promised to bring what she heard to the halls of power, and now she will.
“Elaine’s election is a testament to the strength of people who stood up and marched, who spoke up and said enough. Elaine harnessed this new energy and pointed out that politicians had failed in their basic moral responsibility to keep us safe. Her election is proof that we don’t have to tolerate inaction on gun safety in a country where guns cause daily heartbreak and horror. We congratulate Elaine Luria on her victory tonight and look forward to working with her in the months to come as we fight to make our schools, streets, and communities safer.”
Acutely aware of the harm that weapons of war can cause on our streets, Elaine ran on a platform that included support of universal background checks on all gun sales, prohibiting the sale of assault weapons, and investing in federal gun violence research. Giffords campaigned for Luria in partnership with VoteVets as part of a tour to elect veteran candidates committed to gun safety policies. Her opponent, incumbent Scott Taylor, has an A rating from the NRA.
Related Resources from Giffords:
- Memo: Giffords Elevates Gun Safety Champions; Takes on NRA in Congressional Battlegrounds
- Press Release: Gun Safety & The 2018 Midterms
- Fact Sheet: The State of Gun Violence in Virginia
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